Alternative observation area on the Central Coast

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #1 19-12-2009, 02:59 PM

Hi all,
I have made this suggestion before, however I thought I would mention it again.
I would like to propose that we try a different observation area that may well be better than the Pony Club.

I have been speaking with a Commitee member at the Central Coast soaring Club an I now have many more details than I did before about this alternative to our Pony Club.

The site itself is on Bloodtree Rd Mangrove Mountain near a sporting field.
Its easy to find in the light or in the dark.
Here is the web-site of the club itself. http://www.ozstuff.com.au/ccsoaring/

Basically the site offers a large area where we can escape streetlights, and which has some very nice facilities for us to use.
These facilities include inside toilets, stove, power for scopes and urns / coffee etc.
There is an on-site caretaker there usually day and night.
The club house itself has one outside fluourescent light which we possibly can turn off or we may need to remove the fluoro tube from on arival and re-fit it when we leave, and I think that would be easier than putting red buckets on lights across from the PC. and dealing with the light down the raod at the PC as well.
The airfield is about 1.5 kilometers long I believe , and there is plenty of room.
The horizon is very good in some areas and some trees seem to block out the majority of sky glow from Sydney from what I saw when I went there one night.

There are a few things we have to do in order to be able to use these facilities though.
These conditions involve each of us paying $5.00 per visit each for the use of power and facilities.
We must leave the club house as we found it, clean and tidy.
We must also send a letter to the committee prior to our first visit to indicate our intentions to try the airfield as our observation area.
This will be answered by a Committee member who will hopefully meet us on site for our first visit ans show us what we need to know about the place.

I personally would be happy to give $5.00 to the club if the site turns out to be worthwhile.

If anyone is happy to try this new venue out, I would be happy to write the letter and get this happening.
Just indicate your approval on this thread and I will work out the finer details needed to get the ball rolling.

I also have been quite happy with the PC's facilities, and quite like the place, But the light down the road is a pest to both observers and imagers and nothing can be done about that.

Anyway I have said enough I feel.
Just let me know if you all want to try a nice new spot to meet and enjoy when we get together.

I have the co-ordinates off Google Earth below.

33 deg 17'07" s

151 deg 12'44" E

I tried to upload a capture from Google Earth but couldnt.

If anyone wants a snapshot of the area and where to turn off, please let me know.

Cheers.

geoffro

En1gma (Robert) · #2 19-12-2009, 03:44 PM

The moment I hear power. I get all tingly.

Sounds very good. I would be in.

Rob

Allan_L (Allan) · #3 19-12-2009, 03:52 PM

I am happy to try the place.
I know the sporting field, and checked it out as a possibilty some time ago.
I didn't know about the soaring club though, it sounds good.
"Inside Toilets " !!! that would be nice.
Happy to give it a try.
How about tonight for a looky see?

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #4 19-12-2009, 06:45 PM

Sorry Al, no can do tonight.

I need to send formal notification to them before we try it out.
Of course you can drive past and see what its like though... please do....

Maybe in February after Dunedoo. That may be the first chance we get to see what its like.

Geoffro.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #5 19-12-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by En1gma

The moment I hear power. I get all tingly.

Sounds very good. I would be in.

Rob

Good work Robert. The more the better.

Allan_L (Allan) · #6 19-12-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

Sorry Of course you can drive past and see what its like though... please do....

Maybe in February after Dunedoo. That may be the first chance we get to see what its like.

Geoffro.

Ten Four good buddy

Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin) · #7 19-12-2009, 10:00 PM

count me in geoffro.

probably quicker by car if i remember is it (watched the gliders once)

Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin) · #8 19-12-2009, 10:01 PM

ps one of my friends is a mate of the caretaker

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #9 19-12-2009, 10:22 PM

Excellent Arthur.

After a few more interested observers make a post I will start drafting a letter to the Commitee and get it happening.

It cant hurt to just try the site and see what its like.

Allan_L (Allan) · #10 20-12-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

Excellent Arthur.

After a few more interested observers make a post I will start drafting a letter to the Commitee and get it happening.

It cant hurt to just try the site and see what its like.

I called in last night and they were still there (at 9pm).
and showed little sign of leaving soon.

I met the president and he was very welcoming.

I think there may be issues with light if we want to be close to the clubhouse.

However there is lots of spots away from the lights (but up to half kilometre walk to club house.

Horizon is fantastic.

Willing to give it a try.

Satchmo · #11 20-12-2009, 02:09 PM

Good to see something moving on this at last and good to meet Allan L from IIS. Until Kurt moved into the club house recently I considered this idea a no-goer as this site is primarily a gliding club and we do have issues of security there.

The reason people were still around on Saturday night was that it was the tail end of our Xmas party. We are usually landed by mid after-noon in Summer and gone by late afternoon.

The area between the clubhouse and the hanger is good as it flat and you could run power out to the scopes. There is a flourescent light that can be switched off I think . There would be one HPS light out on the street visible from there, that is fairly heavily filtered by trees and a fair way away. I don't know how this would effect the astrophotographers.. If you move say 75 meters south `up' the strip you will have the light blocked by the hanger.

My favorite area for viewing is the South end as the horizen all around is fantastic, no lights normally but it is drive down, or a 5 minute walk. The Mercury lights from the soccor field will oblirerate the South end if on , but I've only seen them on a Thursday night.

The council depot also has a bright Mercury light on Monday to Thursday but this may not still be the case. The Northern end of the strip can have the ocassional truck in the distance but up to the end of runway 09 is completely light free as well. All the strips are mowed grass incidentally.

I would be happy to host a gathering up there and help you guys find sutable spots. I have observed from there a number of times and found it better than the pony club due to facilities and that I can find somewhere completely free of lights or cars. . The altitude of 1000 feet helps too. I think there may be difficulty finding one spot to satisfy all the needs of visual and imaging in all the one place but you never know. I don't know to what extent socialising in the club house is important.

Bear in mind that Central Coast Soaring club obtained the land by lease in 1982 and are a very small club with a fragile existance so any use that doesn't meet the agreed guidelines will result in things falling through pronto so tread carefully please.

I would add that we are always looking for new members /students and people who would like to try Air Experience Flights. It can be a great day out for family and friends to try a glider flight. Its a little known and undersestimated resource on the Central Coast. It was a great day yesterday , we got almost 8 hours air time amonst four pilots. I personally had a 90 minute flight tracking out to Yaramalong and topping out at 7000ft , the view was absolutely spectacular. The feeling of riding the thermal updrafts to great heights is probably closest to surfing but with a great deal of comfort and spectacular level of visibilty .

Mark

gb_astro · #12 20-12-2009, 03:58 PM

Sounds interesting, definitely worth a look.

Separate imaging/visual areas could be an advantage.

Greg.

Rhino1980 (Ryan) · #13 20-12-2009, 06:20 PM

Yeah mate I'd be keen to try it out.
Cheers and have a good chrissie

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #14 20-12-2009, 06:49 PM

Sounds like we have many positive comments and some good interest in this new spot.
May Isuggest that we try it in february next year and see how it goes.

geoffro.

Rodstar (Rod) · #15 20-12-2009, 09:54 PM

Hey Geoffrey, I'd be keen to give it a go too! That street light at the pony Club drives me barmy.

Rick Petrie · #16 22-12-2009, 02:22 PM

I think it is also worth a try.
February sounds good.

astropolak (Joe) · #17 22-12-2009, 05:44 PM

Now we are on the right track I think.
I may even realise my dream to have a flight in a glider....

Well done Geoffro !

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #18 22-12-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astropolak

Now we are on the right track I think.
I may even realise my dream to have a flight in a glider....

Well done Geoffro !

Well, we may be able to coax the pilots into looking through our scopes one night in exchange for a flight ....

I will also suggest this to them when I write the letter.

Satchmo · #19 22-12-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

Well, we may be able to coax the pilots into looking through our scopes one night in exchange for a flight ....

I will also suggest this to them when I write the letter.

I know the real cost of glider flights and the club has been in a negative financial situation for the last few years . It would be better financially for the gliding club for our club members to go to Kulnura Observatory if they want a squizz at the sky ( and a number have ) . I am always happy to take anybody who is genuinly interested up, for half my costs, and I don't even want a look through your telescope

Perhaps the fairest way to go about it if there was enough interest would be to suggest a group booking at discount flying rate and we throw on a BBQ and some viewing afterwards, in which case everyone is ahead.

Octane (Humayun) · #20 23-12-2009, 12:49 AM

Mark,

Your suggestion sounds awesome. I'd love a flight in a glider!

And, the new location sounds awesome, too.

Regards,
Humayun